Bit attachment.



No. 672,988. Patented Apr. 30, |90I. P. RILEY.

BIT ATTACHMENT.

(Application led Oct. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

PETER RILEY, OF SAN-ANTONIO, TEXAS.

BIT ATTACHM ENT.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,988, dated April 30, 1901.

Application filed October 15, 1900. Serial No. 33,153. (No model.,A

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER RILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Bit Attachment, of which the followingisaspecitcation.

This invention relates to bit attachments, and has for its object to provide improved means for stopping runaway horses and to arrange for mounting the same upon a harnessbit so as to be under the control of the driver for convenient and effective operation when required. It is further designed to have the device out of the way, so as not tointerfere with the horse and the driving-reins, and to provide the device with means for pressing against the nostrils of the animal, so as to stop his breathing, and thereby bring the animal under control.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the application of the improved device in its normal position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the device removed from the harness-bit. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Corresponding parts are designated by like characters of reference in all of the figures of the drawings.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, l designates the hollow or tubular substantially U-shaped casing, which is provided with a longitudinal slot 2 in the lower convex side and extends for about one-half of the length of each side thereof. At or adjacent to the opposite ends of the casing there are provided the `rearwardly-extending loops or rings 3 to embrace the respective end portions of a harness bit 4 (shown in Fig. 1) and inwardly from the bitrings, so as to support the device beneath the lower jaw of the animal. These loops are removable, and each is of substantially U shape, having its opposite ends formed into the respective clamping bands or clips 5, which embrace the tubular casing and have their free ends clamped to the adjacent side of the loop by means of suitable screw-threaded fastenings 6, whereby the loops are both detachable and adjustable longitudinally of the device.

Slidably received within each side or arm of the casing is a bowed stem or rod 7, which is guided throughascrew-threaded plug 8, removably fitted in the open outer end of the arm. The outer end of the rod projects beyond the casing and is provided with a segmental rounded or convex button or head 9, which is designed to be forced against the nostrils of the animal, as will be hereinafter described. A lateral stud 10 is carried by the inner end of each rod and projects outwardly through the adjacent portion of the slot in the casing and is designed to engage a spring-catch 11 to normally hold the rod within the casing. The spring-catch is of substantially U shape, having its opposite ends extended laterally outward', so as to form the opposite catch-fingers 12, the latter being bent or kinked intermediate of their ends, so as to form seats for the reception of the outer ends of the respective studs of the bowed rods 7. In order that the tension of the springcatch may be adjusted to take up wear, a thumb-screw 13 passes through the intermediate portion of the catch and engages a bandv or ring 14, which embraces the intermediate portion of the casing and is held fixedly thereto by means of a screw-eye 15. A coiled spring 16 embraces the thumb-screw and bears in'opposite directions against the head of the adjusting-screw and the springcatch, whereby the latter is yieldingly held in engagement with the studs and may be disengaged therefrom by pulling outwardly upon the spring-catch. As best shown in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the screw-eye extends rearwardly from the device, while the adjusting thumb-screw and the catch are'pendent from the under side thereof, so as not to interfere with each other. Opposite links 17 embrace the intermediate portion of the catch and at opposite sides of thethumb-screw and IOC are connected to a suitable strap 18, which extends to the driver, whereby the catch may be released by pulling upon the strap.

In order that the bowed rods or stems may be automatically forced outwardly when released from the catch, each rod is surrounded by a coiled spring 19, having its inner end fixed to the rod, as indicated at 20, and its outer end fixed to the adjacent plug, as shown at 21, so that when the catch is released the rods will be simultaneously thrown outwardly under the action of the contracting springs, so as to firmly grip the nostrils of an animal, thereby interfering with his breathing.

In the application and operation of the device the suspending rings or loops 3 are fitted to the opposite ends of a harness-bit, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so that the major portion of the device is suspended beneath the lower jaw of the animal and assumes a substantially vertical position. A suitable strap 22 is then connected to the screw-eye 15 and the throat-latch 23 of the bridle, so as to prevent the lower end of the device swinging forward upon its pivotal connection with the bit, which might catch the heads of the rods in the bit-rings or other parts of the bridle. To throw the device into operation, the strap 18 is pulled, thereby swinging the rear or lower end of the device rearwardly, so as to bring the heads or buttons 9 opposite the nostrils of the animal, in which position the pull on the strap will release the catch and the rods will be forced outwardly, thereby thrusting the buttons into the nostrils of the animal and cutting off his breath, whereby the animal will be brought under control.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present device can be applied to any ordinary bit without requiring any changes in the same or in the bridle, and, moreover, it is arranged so as to be out ofthe way of the reins and cannot be entangled in any part of the bridle.

What is claimed is- 1. The combination with a bit, of a substantially U-shaped tubular casing pivotally pendent from the opposite ends of the bit, a longitudinally-slidable nostril-engaging member mounted within each tubular side of the casing'and arranged to be projected outwardly through the open end of the casing, actuating-springs for the said members, means for normally holding the members retracted, and. a releasing-trip therefor.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a substantially U-shaped tubular casing, having means for connection with a harnessbit, opposite nostril-engaging members telescoping within the opposite sides of the casing, springs housed within the casing and normally holding the members retracted, a single catch device located between the inner ends of the members, and a trip device connected to the catch.

3. Adevice of the class described, comprising a substantially U-shaped casing, having a longitudinal slot in its convex side, opposite bit-engaging devices, opposite rods housed within the casing, heads or buttons upon the outer ends of the rods, studs carried by the inner ends of the rods and slidably engaging the slot, contractive coiled springs connected to the respective rods and the casing, a substantially Ushaped spring-catch located between the inner ends of the rods, and having its opposite ends bent laterally outward in opposite directions forming catchingers each of the latter having an intermediate seat for the reception of the adjacent stud, an adjusting thumb screw passing through the intermediate portion of the spring-catch and carried by the casing, and a coiled spring encircling the screw and bearing in opposite directions against the head thereof and the spring-catch, and a strap or the like connected to the spring-catch.

4. The combination with a harness-bridle, and the bit thereof, of a casing pivotally pendent from the opposite ends of the bit and normally hanging in a substantially upright position, a flexible brace-strap between the lower end ot the casing and the throat-latch of the bridle, opposite nostril-engaging members lnounted upon the casing, and a combined tilting and member-operating device connected to the lower portion of the casing, whereby the latter is designed to be tilted into its operative position and the members are actuated.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER RILEY.

Witnesses:

W. W. AvEY, B. W. MAsTERsoN.

IOO 

